190 ANNOYING AND PAINFUL GRASS 



lady, who, with two or three others, were dressed in European 

 style, as also were the chief men of the congregation. The 

 ladies, however, did not patronise chairs, but had cushions laid 

 on the floor. About half the congregation seemed to be 

 Sihanaka, the rest were Hovas. As soon as service was over, 

 the singers begged that I would teach them a new tune ; so, as 

 at other places, the large paper copy of one, which was then 

 new and very popular at the capital, was brought out, and we 

 practised it until we had to ask them to let our lunch be got 

 ready. They then removed into the schoolhouse and sang 

 away until it was almost time for the afternoon service ; and 

 then again in the evening until late at night. They also learned 

 another new tune and hymn ; and not only on Sunday night, 

 but early next morning, they were still at these two tunes, and 

 the last thing heard as we left the place was, " There is a happy 

 land," etc., over and over again. 



In the afternoon Mr Pillans and I set off to preach to the 

 people at Ambohipeno, who had received us so pleasantly on 

 the preceding evening. We wanted to give our own men a 

 perfect rest, and so got some Sihanaka bearers. They jolted 

 us not a little ; carrying logs of timber was much more in their 

 line than carrying English missionaries. However, we got there 

 quickly and found the little chapel filled with people waiting 

 for us. On our way to and fro we noticed a peculiar appearance 

 in the grass, as if small handfuls of it were tied together in a 

 bundle, while still growing. On examining a tuft of this, we 

 found the unusual appearance was caused by a small mass of 

 fibres growing around, and the long awns intertwining, involving 

 the neighbouring grasses in their clasp ; the end of each is 

 armed with a sharp and barbed point, fine and strong enough 

 to pierce the skin. This grass (Andropogon contortus) the 

 natives call Ltfon-ddmbo (" wild-hog's spear "). In walking 

 among this grass the awns cling to one's trousers by hundreds, 

 and gradually make their way through to the skin, causing a 

 pricking like so many pins. Almost as annoying, although 

 not so painful, is a plant called Anantsindhy, which is found all 

 over the central province, and of which the small dry seeds, 

 called Tsipolotra, are furnished with fine prickles, which make 

 the seeds stick to your clothes by scores, as you pass through 

 any piece of waste ground. 



